UPDATES

摘要

Deepwater Horizon Update: As noted in the October issue of EP&SE, this column will continue to report on remediation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion that released approximately 184 million gallons of oil from BP's Macondo Well. As of late September when this column was being prepared, the major news from the Gulf was that BP had completed construction of a relief well through which workers would be able to pump sufficient quantities of mud and cement to permanently close off Macondo. As reported by Kristen Hays in a September 17 article from the Reuters News Service, the pumping operation, referred to as a "bottom-kill," is designed to secure against any future leaks. The procedure followed successful placement on July 15 of a cap on the wellhead that had finally cut-off oil flow. The article noted that the next steps would include conducting pressure tests to ensure the well is dead.